India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with a rich array of languages that reflect its cultural heritage. According to the Indian census, there are 121 languages and 270 mother tongues spoken in the country. The Indian constitution recognizes two official languages of the country: Hindi and English, as well as 22 scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
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Main languages spoken in India
The most widely spoken languages in India vary from region to region. Here are details on some of the main languages, the number of people who speak them, and the percentage of the total population based on the 2011 Census:
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|
language |
Number of speakers (millions) |
% of total population |
|
Hindi |
52.83 |
43.63% |
|
Bengal |
9.72 |
8.03% |
|
marathi |
8.30 |
6.86% |
|
telugu |
8.11 |
6.70% |
|
tamil |
6.90 |
5.70% |
|
Urdu |
5.10 |
4.19% |
|
gujarati |
4.58 |
4.58% |
|
Malayalam |
3.10 |
2.60% |
|
kannada |
3.40 |
2.80% |
|
Odia |
3.20 |
2.60% |
language family
The languages of India can be divided into several language families:
- Indo-European languages: Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati and Urdu are mainly distributed in northern and western India.
- Dravidian languages: Mainly found in southern India, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
- South Asian Languages: This group includes languages such as Khasi and Santali.
- Sino-Tibetan language family: mainly spoken in the northeastern states, including languages such as Bodo and Manipur.
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India’s linguistic diversity is officially recognized by the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which lists the languages entitled to government representation and support. As of 2024, India has 22 designated languages. Here is the complete list:
|
Predetermined language |
add year |
|
Assamese |
1950 |
|
Bengal |
1950 |
|
Hakata |
2003 |
|
Dogri |
2003 |
|
gujarati |
1950 |
|
Hindi |
1950 |
|
kannada |
1950 |
|
Kashmir |
1950 |
|
Konkani |
1992 |
|
Maithili |
2003 |
|
Malayalam |
1950 |
|
Manipuri |
1992 |
|
marathi |
1950 |
|
Nepali |
1992 |
|
Odia |
1950 (renamed from Oriya in 2011) |
|
punjabi |
1950 |
|
Sanskrit |
1950 |
|
sindhi |
1967 |
|
tamil |
1950 |
|
telugu |
1950 |
|
Urdu |
1950 |
|
Santali |
2003 |
Regional differences
Each state in India has its own linguistic identity, often using local languages as well as Hindi and English as official means of communication. For example:
India’s linguistic landscape is not only vast but also vibrant. Language develops and adapts over time. Hindi remains the unifying language for many states, while regional languages help preserve local culture and identity. This diversity is a testament to India’s rich heritage and continues to influence social interactions today.
Understanding India’s major languages provides insight into its cultural diversity and social structure, and is therefore an important aspect of Indian identity.
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Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
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